Chapter 7: The Scam

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Gu Sheng came to pick up He Wenzhou? When did these two people, who seemed completely unrelated, even meet? For a moment, Gu Sheng’s words struck like thunder out of a clear sky, silencing everyone in the private room who had been eagerly waiting for a spectacle.

Who was He Wenzhou? Wealthy, handsome, influential, and with a dazzling career at its peak, he lived a simple private life free of vices. He was Beijing’s most renowned golden bachelor, the object of many socialites’ and heiresses’ attempts to ingratiate themselves.

And Gu Sheng? In the eyes of others, she was just a pitiful parasite raised by the Zhao family, fatherless and motherless. Now branded as a deliberate assailant with a tarnished reputation and a criminal record, how on earth had she managed to latch onto the golden pillar that was He Wenzhou?

“Taking someone home?” Such words between a man and a woman were undeniably suggestive, sparking endless speculation.

Soon, whispers rippled through the room.

“Oh my god, she’s really out of prison!”

“Wasn’t she sentenced to ten years? Hiss, it’s only been one year. Does the Wang family know...?”

“Wait, isn’t Gu Sheng engaged to Young Master Zhao? Then what’s going on with her and He Wenzhou? Could it be...?”

“Isn’t the real issue that Young Master Zhao is cheating on his fiancée while she’s behind bars? That’s even more despicable!”

After all, Cheng Yan was still standing by the door with reddened eyes.

A voice of justice finally spoke up.

At that moment, Zhao Qinglang’s hand grasping Gu Sheng’s arm found only empty air. Behind him, the gossip and teasing chatter showed no sign of abating. Irritated to the core, he furrowed his brows and glared impatiently at Gu Sheng’s profile, his expression darkening.

“What are you doing?” He was slightly drunk and couldn’t help but lash out, “Why did you come here?”

He instinctively glanced at Gu Sheng’s right leg, noting her wearing long pants and flat shoes, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Thankfully.

Zhao Qinglang thought.

No one noticed her limp.

Gu Sheng keenly caught the brief flicker of emotion in Zhao Qinglang’s eyes. She barely frowned before letting go and ignoring him.

Zhao Qinglang, left standing empty-handed, felt embarrassed, while Xu Ye in the crowd eyed Gu Sheng thoughtfully.

Of course.

Zhao Qinglang wholeheartedly believed Gu Sheng had suddenly appeared to coax him home, a tried and true tactic. He was equally convinced that his lifelong familiarity with Gu Sheng meant there was nothing between her and He Wenzhou.

But he hadn’t anticipated that Gu Sheng would discover his affair with Cheng Yan. As a woman, Cheng Yan would surely be furious and humiliated. So she deliberately targeted He Wenzhou, someone they barely knew but shared the same professional circle with, to spite him.

Actions spoke louder than words. Zhao Qinglang’s guilty conscience sent tingles down his scalp. Especially since Cheng Yan had just revealed she was pregnant, this unwelcome complication forced him to soften his tone, quietly coaxing the ever-kind Gu Sheng.

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“Be good, stop making a scene. Let’s go home first,” he softened his voice. “Trust me, I’ve already cut things off with Cheng Yan.”

He thought women only wanted to hear that at such a delicate moment.

Gu Sheng felt the same.

Cheng Yan’s sharp ears caught this. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Zhao, are you going to abandon me and our child?”

Apparently, she had already decided it would be a boy.

Zhao Qinglang’s forehead veins bulged as he snapped, “Shut up!”

Leaving Cheng Yan silently crying with her hands covering her mouth.

As the atmosphere grew tense, Gu Sheng’s eyelids twitched and finally responded.

“He Wenzhou.”

Her calm, serene eyes fixed upon He Wenzhou’s handsome face, her expression tranquil. “It’s time to leave.”

Her demeanor was graceful, her voice soft and warm, almost like a familiar, coquettish whisper.

Rumor had it that He Wenzhou was always indifferent to women, never succumbing to allure or temptation.

Yet—

Having seen enough drama, He Wenzhou raised an eyebrow, meeting Gu Sheng’s gaze. His narrow eyes squinted slightly as he reached for his coat on the sofa and headed out. His thin lips curved into a barely-there smile. “Alright.”

His masculine, magnetic voice lifted in a clearly good mood.

The host, quick to seize the moment, smiled broadly. “He Lawyer, I’m counting on you for this matter.”

He Wenzhou nodded with a smile.

But as he passed Zhao Qinglang, he paused, slightly furrowed his brows, and smiled faintly. “Please let me through.”

An outsider blocking the way.

Zhao Qinglang’s face darkened completely. He glared at Gu Sheng’s profile, but she seemed oblivious to him, turning and walking away.

Following closely behind He Wenzhou, Gu Sheng’s figure swayed slightly with each step, yet she never once met his gaze.

The room buzzed.

No one knew who it was, but as the two departed, a voice casually tossed a barb, “No wonder Fairy Gu was released early. Turns out she had her next stop lined up—prepared and unflustered.”

Everyone knew He Wenzhou’s reputation in legal circles was formidable. With his strength and abundant cases, he rarely took clients lightly. A person with such status and wealth wouldn’t offend the Wang family just for money.

Besides, Gu Sheng had no money.

Unless...

At that moment, Zhao Qinglang’s eyes narrowed, the truth dawning on him with a jolt that the green shoots on his head were bursting beyond control.

“No wonder,” he murmured, staring toward the hallway Gu Sheng had disappeared down. “No wonder He is trying so hard!”

He was convinced there was something going on between them.

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Zhao Qinglang’s expression turned cold. Disregarding Cheng Yan’s tear-streaked face as she was left behind, and without even putting on his coat, he rushed out after them.

On the sofa behind, Xu Ye squinted and called out, “Young Master Zhao, that’s the illustrious He Wenzhou.”

That only quickened Zhao Qinglang’s pace.

—

Outside the gilded den, with the dazzling lights of the grand hall behind her, Gu Sheng stopped and pulled out a receipt.

“He Lawyer,” she said expressionlessly, holding it out. “Taxi fare for tonight—five hundred. Please reimburse me.”

He Wenzhou frowned and glanced her way but didn’t move.

“You said you had no money, so you offered labor in exchange. I really don’t have money to pay you back, so I came as you instructed.” Gu Sheng waved the receipt, serious as if settling accounts between close brothers. “If you think it’s too much, I can give you a discount: two hundred fifty each. You can transfer me the money via QR code.”

This was why Gu Sheng had come to find He Wenzhou late at night.

“He Lawyer, your way of scolding is quite sophisticated,” He Wenzhou said, almost laughing at the absurdity as he scanned the receipt. His tone was chilly. “You even calculated the fare home. So you came to me to make a profit?”

Gu Sheng fished out her phone and blinked her big eyes. “I have no money to go home.”

She was truly broke after just getting out of prison.

He Wenzhou was displeased but generous. “Makes sense. Can’t let you, the errand runner, die halfway.”

His voice was like a poisoned blade. Pulling out his phone, he scanned her WeChat. “Such a plain profile picture?”

He looked at the jasmine flower and raised his brow. “A symbol of wealth and prosperity?”

Gu Sheng took the money and felt safe, casually correcting him. “It’s called ‘Quiet Years.’”

“Crazy.” He Wenzhou snorted lightly, his gaze misty as if drunk. “Now that you’ve got the money, remember your duty—get me home quickly.”

Just as they were about to leave, a man’s voice rose in the night, angry and ashamed, “Gu Sheng, stop right there!”

Before the words finished, Gu Sheng was startled. She was still on the steps when someone suddenly rushed at her, grabbing her arm and pulling her back. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Zhao Qinglang’s furious face. She lost her footing and fell straight down the stairs.

“Help!”

Just as she was about to fall, a sharp scream caught in her throat. She felt a strong hand suddenly support her waist. Her body wobbled, then fell into a warm, solid embrace.

Pale with fright, she hurriedly looked up, her eyes meeting He Wenzhou’s finely chiseled jawline.

“He Lawyer.”

She froze for a moment before hearing He Wenzhou smile and say, “Are you planning to scam me since you have no money to pay back?”

“Better be careful,” he said nonchalantly, “or you might accidentally get yourself killed.”